By Aliyu Ibrahim, Kaduna
Some aggrieved aspirants and members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kaduna State have alleged that the just-concluded primary elections of the party, particularly in Kaduna North Senatorial Zone, were marred by irregularities, including incidents of thuggery and the snatching of result sheets.
The aggrieved members therefore called for a review of the process to address the alleged irregularities or, alternatively, for the cancellation of the election and the conduct of a fresh exercise in the interest of transparency, fairness to all aspirants, genuine internal democracy, and in line with party guidelines and Nigeria’s electoral laws.
They made the call during a press conference in Kaduna led by Hon. Sama’ila Aliyu Makarfi, an aspirant for the Kudan/Makarfi House of Representatives seat, alongside Hajiya Zulaihat Abdulkarim, Deputy Women Leader of the ADC in Kaduna State.
According to Hon. Sama’ila Makarfi, he and his team were present on the election day to observe the conduct of the primaries in Makarfi Local Government Area, where they allegedly observed the absence of party electoral officials and voting materials.
He further alleged that there was a reported incident in which suspected thugs stormed the ADC office in Zaria, assaulted electoral officials, and carted away election result sheets. He claimed that a similar incident also occurred in Kudan Local Government Area within the senatorial zone.
Makarfi further alleged that later in the night, arrangements were made for a group of party supporters aligned with a particular aspirant to be lined up and counted as votes in determining the election outcome.
He also alleged that five out of the ten members of the ADC Primary Election Committee for Kaduna State had taken sides with a particular governorship aspirant. He claimed he was denied the role assigned to him as an agent of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar during the ADC presidential primary election in Kaduna State.
Alhaji Sama’ila Makarfi described the alleged incidents that characterised the ADC primaries as disturbing and disappointing to party supporters who had looked up to the party as a platform for real change in governance, due process, and internal democracy in the country.
The aggrieved ADC members called on the national leadership and other relevant stakeholders of the party to urgently intervene and address the complaints to ensure reconciliation and unity within the party.
They warned that achieving the party’s target of winning next year’s general election may prove difficult without genuine reconciliation among party members and supporters.
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